Method of knitting stripe pattern of tubular knitted fabric and the knitting fabric

ABSTRACT

A method of knitting a stripe pattern in a tubular fabric by using a flat knitting machine comprising at least a pair of front and back needle beds, wherein a front fabric  3  and a back fabric  5  are suspended in layers from the needle beds and their loop courses are cyclically knitted in an alternate order so as to be joined together at each widthwise end thereof to form the tubular fabric  1 ; wherein whenever a predetermined courses are knitted, two different yarns of a first yarn and a second yarn are switched to each other alternately to form the stripe pattern comprising a first knitted fabric part  7  and a second knitted fabric part  9 ; and wherein a loop of at least either of the first knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part is missed at a yarn switching point in the boundary between the first knitted fabric part  7  and the second knitted fabric part  9 , to minimize a stitch level difference produced at that point.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a knitting method of knitting astripe pattern into a tubular fabric by using a flat knitting machine,wherein a yarn switching is performed in the course of knitting of thetubular fabric to minimize stitch level difference produced at the yarnswitching point, so as to prevent disfigurement of the knitted fabric,and to the stripe patterned fabric.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A tubular fabric can be knitted by using a flat knitting machinein such a manner that a front knitted fabric and a back knitted fabricare suspended in layers from their respective needle beds and their loopcourses are cyclically knitted, with a yarn fed to the front fabric andthe back fabric in an alternate order, so as to be joined together ateach widthwise end thereof.

[0003] An example of a general method of knitting a tubular fabric of aplain knitted structure by using the flat knitting machine is shown inFIG. 5. “F” at the left side of the diagram indicates a front needlebed, “B” indicates a back needle bed, “A-O” indicate needles of thefront needle bed, and “a-o” indicate needles of the back needle bed.FIG. 6 is a loop diagram showing in development a part of the knittedfabric part around the yarn switching point. In FIG. 6, the broken lineX-X shows a boundary between a front fabric 103 and a back fabric 105,which corresponds to a left end portion of the knitting width of thefabric, when viewed from on the needle bed. FIG. 6 illustrates that theloop course of the front fabric 103 and the loop course of the backfabric 105 which are formed in one knitting cycle of the tubular fabricare aligned on the same line.

[0004] First, in the step 1, a yarn feeder is shifted rightwards to feedthe yarn to the needles a-o of the back needle bed so as to make thecourse knitting of the back fabric 105. In the next step 2, the yarnfeeder is shifted leftwards to feed the yarn to the needles O-A of thefront needle bed so as to make the course knitting of the front fabric103. Subsequently, the course knitting in the step 1 and the courseknitting in the step 2 are repeated in an adequate number of times toknit the loop courses of a first knitted fabric part 107. Thereafter,the yarn is switched to another yarn of different color and then thesame knitting as the knitting mentioned above is made to knit a secondknitted fabric part 109. This knitting way that whenever a requirednumber of cycles of courses are knitted, the yarns are alternatelyswitched to each other can produce a stripe patterned tubular fabric 101in which the first color and the second color are alternately mixed. Itshould be noted that the stripe patterned fabric defined herein includesa two-tone knitted fabric in which the yarn switching is performed onlyonce. In general, the yarn feeder is initially positioned at eitherlengthwise end of the needle bed of the flat knitting machine. In thisexample, the initial position of the yarn feeder is set at the left sideof the same and the wale at the left end of the back fabric 105 (at theneedle “a” of the back needle bed) is set to be a starting point of theknitting cycle. The yarn switching is performed in this condition in theillustrated example.

[0005] As seen from FIG. 6, when a next loop course is formed after theloop course of the tubular fabric 101 is formed in one cycle knitting,the last loop in the loop course formed in the one cycle knitting isdrawn toward a firstly formed loop in the next loop course formed in onecycle knitting. As a result of this, color transition difference isproduced at the yarn switching point 102 in the actual knitted fabric,as shown in FIG. 7.

[0006] In addition, since cross-over yarns 120, 121 are produced at theyarn switching point at which the cycle knitting begins, it is necessarythat after knitting, the cross-over yarns 120, 121 are cut and theiredge yarns are drawn into the inside of the tubular fabric 101. Further,a tail end process, such as a darning, is required to prevent thestitches from loosening from the edge yarn thus drawn in.

[0007] Thus, when the tubular fabric 101 mixing the stripe patterntherein is knitted in the conventional knitting method, the stitch leveldifference resulting from the yarn switching is produced distinctivelyat the boundary between the front fabric 103 and the back fabric 105,thus disfiguring the appearance of the knitted fabric.

[0008] Also, since the knitting involving the yarn switching producesthe cross-over yarns at the yarn switching point, it involvestroublesome tail end process as mentioned above.

[0009] In the light of these problems, the applicant of this applicationpreviously proposed the method disclosed in Japanese Laid-open(Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 10 (1998)-60758. However, theproposed method is a tubular fabric knitting method wherein the yarnswitching point is set at an obscure point of a knitted product, ratherthan at an end of the knitted product with respect to the knitting widththereof. For example, when a necktie is knitted, the yarn switchingpoint is set at a hidden place on the back side of the necktie. Hence,the previously proposed method is not intended for minimizing theoccurrence of the stitch level difference itself. In view of this, thepreviously proposed method cannot be useful for the seamless knitting oftubular knitwear, such as a sweater and a skirt, having no place for theyarn switching point to be hidden on the back side, unlike a necktie.

[0010] It is the object of the present invention to provide a tubularfabric with a stripe pattern that provides a minimized color transitiondifference resulting from the yarn switching produced at the yarnswitching point, to prevent disfigurement of the knitted fabric. It isanother object of the present invention to provide a tubular fabric witha stripe pattern that can relieve the tail end process of an edge yarnportion including cross-over yarns produced by the yarn switching.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a method of knitting a stripepattern in a tubular fabric by using a flat knitting machine comprisingat least a pair of front and back needle beds, wherein a front fabricand a back fabric are suspended in layers from the needle beds and theirloop courses are cyclically knitted in an alternate order so as to bejoined together at each widthwise end thereof, so as to form the tubularfabric; wherein whenever a predetermined courses are knitted, a yarnswitching is performed to form the stripe pattern comprising at least afirst knitted fabric part and a second knitted fabric part; and whereina loop of at least either of the first knitted fabric part and thesecond knitted fabric part is missed and/or tucked at a yarn switchingpoint in the boundary between the first knitted fabric part and thesecond knitted fabric part, to minimize a stitch level differenceproduced at that point.

[0012] Preferably, at least one loop of adjacent loops in each of thefirst knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part is missedat the yarn switching point.

[0013] Further preferably, two loops of the adjacent loops in each ofthe first knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part aremissed at the yarn switching point.

[0014] Still further preferably, one of the two loops is missed in theknitting of the last but one course of the first knitted fabric part;then the other of the two loops is missed in the last course of thesame; then one of the two loops is missed in the knitting of the firstcourse of the second knitted fabric part knitted subsequently; and thenthe other of the two loops is missed in the sequent knitting of thecourse of the same.

[0015] It is preferable that the method includes the unused yarn edgedisposal knitting step that loops to dispose unused yarn edges areformed in the first and second knitted fabric parts at portions thereofin proximity of casting-on and casting-off by using empty needles andthen the loops thus formed are laid over given loops in the tubularfabric.

[0016] It is further preferable that the loops, which are formed in theknitted fabric parts on casting-off side thereof to dispose unused yarnedges, are laid over the downstream located loops with respect to theknitting direction, and the loops, which are formed in the knittedfabric parts on casting-on side thereof to dispose unused yarn edges,are laid over the upstream located loops with respect to the knittingdirection.

[0017] Also, the present invention provides a method of knitting astripe pattern in a tubular fabric by using a flat knitting machinecomprising at least a pair of front and back needle beds, wherein afront fabric and a back fabric are suspended in layers from the needlebeds and their loops courses are cyclically knitted in an alternateorder so as to be joined together at each widthwise end thereof, so asto form the tubular fabric; and wherein a yarn switching is performed toknit the stripe pattern comprising at least a first knitted fabric partand a second knitted fabric part,

[0018] the method comprising the steps:

[0019] a) that a loop of the first knitted fabric part at a portionthereof on the casting-off side next to the second knitted fabric partto be knitted next is missed and/or tucked; and

[0020] b) that a loop of the second knitted fabric part at a portionthereof on the casting-on side next to the first knitted fabric part ismissed and/or tucked in succession to said step.

[0021] Further, the present invention provides a tubular fabric with astripe pattern, wherein a front fabric and a back fabric are cyclicallyknitted so as to be joined together at each widthwise end thereof;wherein the stripe pattern comprising at least a first knitted fabricpart and a second knitted fabric part is formed in such a manner thatwhenever a predetermined courses are knitted, two different yarns of afirst yarn and a second yarn are switched to each other alternately; andwherein at least either of the first knitted fabric part and the secondknitted fabric part is missed and/or tucked at a yarn switching point inthe boundary between the first knitted fabric part and the secondknitted fabric part.

[0022] Preferably, at least one loop of adjacent loops in each of thefirst knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part is missedat the yarn switching point.

[0023] Further preferably, two loops of the adjacent loops in each ofthe first knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part aremissed at the yarn switching point in such a manner that one of the twoloops is missed in the last but one course of the first knitted fabricpart; then the other of the two loops is missed in the last course ofthe same; then one of the two loops is missed in the first course of thesecond knitted fabric part knitted subsequently; and then the other ofthe two loops is missed in the sequent loop course of the same.

[0024] According to the present invention, the tubular fabric with astripe pattern comprising at least a first knitted fabric part knittedwith a first yarn and a second knitted fabric part knitted with a secondyarn is knitted in such a manner that when the knitting is switched fromthe first knitted fabric part to the second knitted fabric part and viceversa, the needle next to the yarn switching point in at least either ofthe knitted fabric parts on the cast-on side or the cast-off side is putin the miss position or the tuck position or in the combined position,without feeding the yarn to that needle. As a result of this, the numberof courses of the wale (stitch loops) bordering on the yarn switchingpoint is reduced more than the number of courses of the other wale and,as a result of this, the loops formed in the course knitting before andafter the miss or the tuck knitting are pulled in each other verticallyand thus stretched, thus serving to make the color difference producedat the yarn switching point obscure.

[0025] In the case where one loop of adjacent loops in each of the firstknitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part is missed, thecolor difference is absorbed between the two missed wale. Thus, thecolor difference can be made obscure, as compared with the case whereone loop in only one knitted fabric part is missed.

[0026] In the case where two loops of the adjacent loops in each of thefirst knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabric part are missedat the yarn switching point, or preferably in the case where one of thetwo loops is missed in the last but one course of the first knittedfabric part; then the other of the two loops is missed in the lastcourse of the same; then one of the two loops is missed in the firstcourse of the second knitted fabric part knitted subsequently; and thenthe other of the two loops is missed in the sequent loop course of thesame, the color difference is gradually absorbed among the four missedwale. Thus, the color difference can be made further obscure, ascompared with the case where one loop is missed.

[0027] When an unused yarn edge disposing loop is formed at the yarnswitching by using the empty needle located next to the yarn switchingpoint and the loop thus formed is laid over a given loop in the tubularfabric, the unused yarn edge disposing loop is woven into the fabric inthe sequent course knitting, thus preventing the stitches of the fabricfrom loosening therefrom.

[0028] When the unused yarn edge disposing loop formed in the knittedfabric part at a portion thereof on the cast-off side is laid over theloop located downstream with respect to the knitting direction and theunused yarn edge disposing loop formed in the knitted fabric part at aportion thereof on the cast-on side is laid over the loop locatedupstream with respect to the knitting direction, these unused yarn edgedisposing loops can allow the loops formed at the cast-off and cast-onpositions to be interconnected in one course direction as well as in thehorizontal direction, and as such can prevent forming any undesirablehole thereat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]FIG. 1 shows the knitting steps 1-14 of a tubular fabric having astriped pattern knitted in the method of Embodiment 1;

[0030]FIG. 2 shows the knitting steps 15-28;

[0031]FIG. 3 shows the knitting steps 29-42;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a loop diagram showing a knitted loop structure around ayarn switching point of the tubular fabric knitted in the method ofEmbodiment 1;

[0033]FIG. 5 shows a general knitting method of knitting the tubularfabric by using a flat knitting machine;

[0034]FIG. 6 is a loop diagram showing the knitted loop structure arounda yarn switching point of the tubular fabric having a stripe patternknitted in the conventional method, depicting the respective coursesaligned in the same lines; and

[0035]FIG. 7 is a loop diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 showing the loopsput in their natural state after knitting.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0036] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

[0037] A two-tone striped pattern of a tubular fabric comprising a firstknitted fabric part and a second knitted fabric part which are knittedinto a tubular form as a preferred embodied form of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the knitting steps of a plain-knitted tubularfabric having a stripe pattern knitted in the method of this embodiment.In the diagrams, horizontal arrows indicate a traveling direction of theyarn feeder; and vertical arrows indicate a stitch transfer direction.“F” indicates a front needle bed; “B” indicates a back needle bed; “A-Q”indicate knitting needles of the front needle bed; and “a-q” indicateknitting needles of the back needle bed. A front fabric 3 forming atubular fabric 1 is knitted with the knitting needles of the frontneedle bed, and a back fabric 5 is knitted with the knitting needles ofthe back needle bed. FIG. 4 illustrates the loop structure around theyarn switching point of the tubular fabric 1. The step S illustrates thestate in which the stitches of the tubular fabric 1 are retained on theneedle bed. The front fabric 3 is retained on the needles C-Q of thefront needle bed, and the back fabric 5 is retained on the needles c-qof the back needle bed. It is to be noted that for convenience ofexplanation, a fewer number of needles used for the knitting than theactual number of needles is illustrated.

[0038] A first knitted fabric part 7 of the stripe pattern is knittedwith a knitting yarn 11 in the following steps 1-6. In the step 1, ayarn feeder (not shown) of the knitting yarn 11 is shifted rightwards tofeed the yarn to the needles c-q of the back needle bed, so as to knitthe loop course 31 b of the back fabric 5. In the step 2, the yarn isfed to the needles Q-C of the front needle bed to knit the loop course31 f of the front fabric 3 next to the loop course of the back fabric 5.The knitting of the steps 1 and 2 is repeated a predetermined number oftimes to knit desired courses of loops of the first knitted fabric part7.

[0039] The next steps 3-6 illustrate the knitting for hiding the stitchlevel difference produced at the yarn switching point. In thisembodiment, these knitting steps are taken in the last two courses 32 f,33 f of the front fabric 3 on the cast-off side. First, in the step 3,the yarn is fed to the needles c-q of the back needle bed to knit theloop course 32 b of the back fabric 5, and then in the step 4, the yarnis fed to the needles Q-D of the front needle bed, except the needle Cat the end of the front needle bed, to knit the loop course 32 f of thefront fabric 3. In the step 5, the yarn is fed to the needles c-q of theback needle bed to knit the last loop course 33 b of the back fabric 5.In the sequent step 6, the yarn is fed to the needles Q-E and C of thefront needle bed, except the needle D of the front needle bed, to knitthe last loop course 33 f of the front fabric 3.

[0040] The steps 7-24 illustrate the knitting for disposing an unusedyarn edge including a cross-yarn part 72. The yarn-out process of theyarn 11 is performed after the completion of the knitting of the firstknitted fabric part 7 is disposed, first, and, then, the yarn-inknitting of the yarn 13 is performed before the start of the knitting ofthe second knitted fabric part 9. In parallel with the unused yarn edgedisposing knitting, the knitting for preventing loosening of stitches isperformed.

[0041] The steps 7-14 illustrate the knitting for disposing an unusedyarn edge of the yarn 11.

[0042] In the step 7, the yarn 11 is hooked on the needle b of the backneedle bed, first, and, then, in the next step 8, the yarn is hooked onthe needle A of the front needle bed, to form tuck loops 41, 42 thereon,respectively. Then, in the step 9, the tuck loop 41 retained on theneedle b of the back needle bed is transferred to the needle B of thefront needle bed. In the next step 10, the yarn 11 is fed to the needleB of the front needle bed to form a loop 43 sequent to the tuck loop 41.As a result of this, the tuck loop 41 that is knocked over across theloop 43 from the needle B of the front needle bed closes the loop 43 atits feet to fix a ring of the loop 43. In the step 11, the loop 43 istransferred to the needle c of the back needle bed and laid over a loop50 in the course 33 b of the back fabric 5. The loop formed to disposethe unused yarn edge is laid over a given loop in the fabric and then iswoven into the fabric in the sequent course knitting, to prevent thestitches of the fabric from loosening therefrom. This knitting method isdisclosed in detail by Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) PatentPublication No. Hei 8 (1996)-188942.

[0043] It should be noted that when the last part of the front fabric 3is knitted up, the loop 43 formed to dispose the unused yarn edge islaid over a loop located downstream of a loop 51 (in this case, the loop50 of the back fabric 5), to prevent the loops 51 and 52 from beingsplit to produce a hole therebetween. In the step 12, the needle A ofthe front needle bed is moved back and forth to knock off the tuck loop42 as was hooked in the step 8 from the needle A.

[0044] In the step 13, the loops retained on the needles C, D and E ofthe front needle bed are transferred to and retained on the needles ofthe opposed needle bed. The loops of the back fabric 5 are alreadyretained on the needles c, d and e of the opposed back needle bed. Inthe illustration, there is illustrated the knitting provided by theso-called four-bed type flat knitting machine comprising another pair ofneedle beds arranged over the front and back needle beds. The loopsretained on the needles C, D and E are transferred to and retained onthe needles c, d and e of the opposed upper back needle bed BU. Thisknitting can be provided, for example, by using the computer-controlledflat knitting machine (Product name: SWG-X) available from SHIMA SEIKIMFG., LTD. In the case where a general-purpose two-bed type flatknitting machine having no upper needle beds is used, for example, thefront fabric is knitted with odd needles and the back fabric is knittedwith even needles so that the front and back fabrics can be knitted inthe form of the tubular fabric, and empty needles are reserved for looptransfer on the opposed needle beds so that the loops retained on theneedles C, D and E can be transferred to those empty needles. In thecase where the flat knitting machine including slide needles each formedby combining two thin plates, such as the computer-controlled flatknitting machine (Product name: FIRST) available from SHIMA SEIKI MFG.,LTD., is used, the knitting can be provided by using the so-calledholding technique for holding a loop temporarily on the slide needledisclosed by Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei11 (1999)-43849. In this holding technique, the loops of the back fabricare retained in the hooks of the needles and the loops retained on theneedles C, D and E are held on the sliders of those needles. Thus, theknitting in the step 13 is selectively determined depending on the typeof flat knitting machine used. In the step 14, the yarn feeder isshifted leftwards to let the yarn 11 out.

[0045] The next steps 15-24 illustrate the knitting for disposing anunused yarn edge of a yarn 13 on the cast-on side which is to besubjected to the yarn-in operation for knitting the second knittedfabric part 9. In the step 15, the yarn feeder is shifted to at leastthe right of the needle F so that the yarn 13 can be within the knittingwidth. Then, in the step 16, the loops of the front fabric 3 as weretransferred to the back needle bed in the step 13 are transferred backto the original needles C, D and E. As a result of this, the yarn 11drawn out runs horizontally through the inside of the tubular fabric tothe outside of the tubular fabric, extending in the exposed state frombetween adjacent loops of the loop course 34 f formed by the needles Eand F toward the yarn feeder stopped at the outside at the left side ofthe fabric. On the other hand, the yarn 13 drawn in is inserted in theinside of the tubular fabric from the outside of the tubular fabric,passing through between the adjacent loops formed by the needles E andF. As a result of this, the cross-over yarn parts 71, 72 of the yarns11, 13 extending between the first knitted fabric part 7 and the secondknitted fabric part 9 are shifted horizontally from the yarn switchingpoints; then come out of hiding of the tubular fabric from between theadjacent loops formed by the needles E and F; and then extend verticallyin an alternate order, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] In the step 17, the yarn 13 is moved leftwards. Then, in the step18, the yarn 13 is hooked by the needle B of the front needle bed and inthe next step 19, the yarn 13 is hooked by the needle a of the backneedle bed, to form the tuck loops 45, 46. Then, in the step 20, thetuck loop 45 retained on the needle B of the front needle bed istransferred to the needle b of the back needle bed. In the next step 21,the yarn 13 is fed to the needle b of the back needle bed to form a loop47 sequent to the tuck loop 45. In the step 22, the loop 47 istransferred to the needle C of the front needle bed and laid over theloop 51 of the course 33 f of the front fabric 3. Thus, prior to thestart of knitting of the back fabric 5, the loop 47 formed to disposethe unused yarn edge is laid over the loop located upstream of the loop54 with respect to the knitting direction (in this case, the loop 51 ofthe front fabric 3), to prevent formation of the undesirable holebetween the loop 51 and the loop 58 formed in the sequent course. Then,in the step 23, the needle a of the back needle bed is moved back andforth to knock off the tuck loop 46 as was formed in the step 19 fromthe needle a, and then in the step 24, the yarn feeder is shiftedleftwards to put the yarn outside of the fabric 1.

[0047] The next steps 25-28 illustrate the knitting for hiding thestitch level difference produced at the yarn switching point. First, inthe step 25, the yarn 13 is fed to the needles d-q of the back needlebed, except the needle c, to knit the loop course 34 b of the backfabric 5. Thereafter, in the step 26, the yarn is fed to the needles Q-Cof the front needle bed to knit the loop course 34 f of the same courseof the front fabric 3. As a result of a loop 57 being formed on theneedle C, the loop 47 formed in the leading edge portion of the yarn 13retained on the needle C is woven in the fabric, together with the loop51 and thus is prevented from loosening. In the step 27, the yarn 13 isfed to the needles c and e-q of the back needle bed, except the needled, to knit the loop course 35 b of the back fabric 5, and in the sequentstep 28, the yarn is fed to the needles Q-C of the front needle bed, toknit the loop course 35 f of the same course of the front fabric 3. As aresult of a loop 55 being formed on the needle c, the loop 43 formed inthe terminal edge portion of the yarn 11 retained on the needle c iswoven in the fabric, together with the loop 50 and thus is preventedfrom loosening. The knitting in the sequent steps 29 and 30 is repeateda predetermined number of times to knit desired number of courses of thesecond knitted fabric part 9. The next steps 31-34 illustrate theknitting using the yarn 13 for hiding the stitch level differenceproduced at an end of the second knitted fabric part 9 on a cast-offside thereof. This knitting is performed in the same manner as theknitting using the yarn 11 in the steps 3-6.

[0048] The steps 35-42 illustrate the knitting for disposing an unusedyarn edge of the yarn 13. This knitting in these steps is performed inthe same manner as in the steps 7-14 using the yarn 11. Thereafter, thefirst knitted fabric part 7 and the second knitted fabric part 9 arealternately knitted, at yarn switching points of which the knitting forhiding the stitch level difference and the knitting for disposing theunused yarn edge are performed, though not shown.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the following method is taken toput the stitch level difference produced at the yarn switching point inthe shade. For the yarn-out operation, the knitting is terminated insuch a condition that the two loops (the needles C and D) located at theside end of the front fabric 3 bordered with the back fabric 5 are eachmissed once, with their courses changed. On the other hand, for theyarn-in operation, the knitting is started in such a condition that thetwo loops (the needles c and d) located at the side end of the backfabric 5 bordered with the front fabric 3 are each missed once, withtheir courses changed. As a result of this, the number of courses of thefront fabric 3 formed with the needles C and D of the front needle bedand the number of courses of the back fabric 5 formed with the needles cand d of the back needle bed becomes fewer than those formed with theremaining needles, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result of this, the loopsformed before and after the miss are drawn in each other, and as suchcan allow those loops to be finally deformed in the boundary by thetensile force of the knitted fabric itself so as to make the stitchlevel difference obscure.

[0050] As mentioned above, the yarns 11, 13 subjected to the yarn-inprocess and the yarn-out process are prevented from loosening at theirends on the cast-off side and cast-on side and also the cross-over yarnparts 71, 72 are extended as if a horseshoe-like shape is drawn,extending horizontally from the yarn switching point through the insideof the tubular fabric, then coming out of hiding of the tubular fabricand extending vertically, then being drawn in the inside of the tubularfabric again, and then extending horizontally toward the next yarnswitching point. As a result of this, when the cross-over yarn partscoming out of hiding of the tubular fabric are cut to dispose the unusedyarn edges and then the knitted fabric is stretched, the cross-over yarnparts coming to the surface are easily drawn and hidden in the knittedfabric. Thus, the unused yarn edges can be disposed with ease and withefficiency.

Variants

[0051] In order to minimize the stitch level difference produced at theyarn switching point, the embodiment illustrated above adopts the methodwherein when the last two courses 32 f, 33 f of the front fabric 3 on acast-off side thereof are knitted, the needles C, D are put in the missposition in the alternate order, while on the other hand, when the firsttwo courses 34 b, 35 b of the back fabric 5 on a cast-on side thereofare knitted, the needles c, d are put in the miss position in thealternate order. Instead of this method, another method may be adoptedwherein the needles D, D are put in the miss position in the last course33 f and the needles c, d are put in the miss position in the course 34b on the cast-on side. Alternatively, the order in which the needles C,D, c, d are put in the miss position may be counterchanged. When theneedles C, D, c, d are put in the miss position, the yarns are not wovenin the knitted fabric, for the reason of which the stitch leveldifference can be put into obscurity, as compared with when the needlesare put in the tuck position. The needles C, D, c, d may be put in thetuck position, however. Further, the needles C, D, c, d may be put inthe combined position of the miss and the tuck.

[0052] Instead of this, the needle C may be put in the miss position tomiss one loop in the loop course 33 f on the cast-off side and theneedle c may be put in the miss position to miss one loop in the loopcourse 34 b on the case-on side. Alternatively, the needles to be put inthe miss position in the boundary may be gradually increased in numberin the order of three, four, . . . . In this variant, the stitch leveldifferences in that range are gradually absorbed to the extentcorresponding to the increased number of needles put in the missedposition. Thus, the effect of putting the stitch level differences intoobscurity can be expected. In addition, only the needle in the boundaryon either of the cast-off side and the cast-on side may be put in themiss position.

[0053] While in the embodiment illustrated above, the yarn switchingpoint is positioned in the boundary between the front fabric and backfabric forming the tubular fabric, or at the side end of the knittingwidth, when viewed from on the needle bed, it is needless to say thatthe knitting method of the present invention may be effected even whenthe yarn switching position is positioned, for example, in a centralportion of the front fabric, without limiting to the side end of theknitting width. In that case, the knitting for disposing the unused yarnedge may be provided by reserving empty needles for that knitting,depending on the type of knitting machine used, in the same manner as inthe step 13 illustrated above.

[0054] While in the embodiment illustrated above, the loop 43 formed todispose the unused yarn edge for casting off stitches is laid over theloop 50 located downstream of the loop 51, the loop 43 may be laid overanother loop, such as the loop 53 or the loop 55 in the next course, aslong as such a loop is located downstream thereof with respect to theknitting direction. Likewise, while the loop 47 formed to dispose theunused yarn edge for casting on stitches is laid over the loop 51located upstream of the loop 54 with respect to the knitting direction,the loop 47 may alternatively be laid over another loop, such as theimmediate loop 50 or the loop 55 in the next course, as long as such aloop is located upstream thereof. For aesthetic preference, it ispreferable that the loops laid over each other are formed from the sameyarn. In short, it is essential that the loop formed to dispose theunused yarn edge is laid over the downstream located loop for thecasting off or over the upstream located loop for the casting on, inorder to prevent going out of existence of the interconnection of theloops in the direction of the course at the casting-off or at thecasting-on and thereby prevent forming any undesirable hole thereat.

[0055] For the tubular fabric having the repeatedly formed strippedpatterns, it is preferable that the yarn switching point is shifted ineach pattern to avoid repetition of the miss or the tuck knitting formaking the stitch level difference obscure by using the same needle, soas not to excessively reduce the number of loop courses in that wale, ascompared with that in the other wale.

CAPABILITIES OF EXPLOITATION IN INDUSTRY

[0056] According to the present invention, the number of courses of thewale bordering on the yarn switching point is reduced more than thenumber of courses of the other wale and, as a result of this, the loopsformed in the course knitting before and after the miss or the tuckknitting are pulled in each other vertically and thus stretched to putthe color difference produced at the yarn switching point in the shade,and as such can prevent disfigurement of the knitted product.

1. A method of knitting a stripe pattern in a tubular fabric by using aflat knitting machine comprising at least a pair of front and backneedle beds, wherein a front fabric and a back fabric are suspended inlayers from the needle beds and their loop courses are cyclicallyknitted in an alternate order so as to be joined together at eachwidthwise end thereof, so as to form the tubular fabric; whereinwhenever a predetermined courses are knitted, a yarn switching isperformed to form the stripe pattern comprising at least a first knittedfabric part and a second knitted fabric part; and wherein a loop of atleast either of the first knitted fabric part and the second knittedfabric part is missed and/or tucked at a yarn switching point in theboundary between the first knitted fabric part and the second knittedfabric part, to minimize a stitch level difference produced at thatpoint.
 2. The method of knitting the stripe pattern in the tubularfabric according to claim 1, wherein at least one loop of adjacent loopsin each of the first knitted fabric part and the second knitted fabricpart is missed at the yarn switching point.
 3. The method of knittingthe stripe pattern in the tubular fabric according to claim 2, whereintwo loops of the adjacent loops in each of the first knitted fabric partand the second knitted fabric part are missed at the yarn switchingpoint.
 4. The method of knitting the stripe pattern in the tubularfabric according to claim 3, wherein one of the two loops located at theyarn switching point is missed in the knitting of the last but onecourse of the first knitted fabric part; then the other of the two loopsis missed in the last course of the same; then one of the two loops ismissed in the knitting of the first course of the second knitted fabricpart knitted subsequently; and then the other of the two loops is missedin the sequent knitting of the course of the same.
 5. The method ofknitting the stripe pattern in the tubular fabric according to claim 1,which includes the unused yarn edge disposal knitting step that loops todispose unused yarn edges are formed in the first and second knittedfabric parts at portions thereof in proximity of casting-on andcasting-off by using empty needles and then the loops thus formed arelaid over given loops in the tubular fabric.
 6. The method of knittingthe stripe pattern in the tubular fabric according to claim 5, whereinthe loops, which are formed in the knitted fabric parts on casting-offside thereof to dispose unused yarn edges, are laid over the downstreamlocated loops with respect to the knitting direction, and the loops,which are formed in the knitted fabric parts on casting-on side thereofto dispose unused yarn edges, are laid over the upstream located loopswith respect to the knitting direction.
 7. A method of knitting a stripepattern in a tubular fabric by using a flat knitting machine comprisingat least a pair of front and back needle beds, wherein a front fabricand a back fabric are suspended in layers from the needle beds and theirloop courses are cyclically knitted in an alternate order so as to bejoined together at each widthwise end thereof, so as to form the tubularfabric; and wherein a yarn switching is performed to knit the stripepattern comprising at least a first knitted fabric part and a secondknitted fabric part, the method comprising the steps: a) that a loop ofthe first knitted fabric part at a portion thereof on the casting-offside next to the second knitted fabric part to be knitted next is missedand/or tucked; and b) that a loop of the second knitted fabric part at aportion thereof on the casting-on side next to the first knitted fabricpart is missed and/or tucked in succession to said step.
 8. A tubularfabric with a stripe pattern wherein a front fabric and a back fabricare cyclically knitted so as to be joined together at each widthwise endthereof; wherein the stripe pattern comprising at least a first knittedfabric part and a second knitted fabric part is formed in such a mannerthat whenever a predetermined courses are knitted, two different yarnsof a first yarn and a second yarn are switched to each otheralternately; and wherein at least either of the first knitted fabricpart and the second knitted fabric part is missed and/or tucked at ayarn switching point in the boundary between the first knitted fabricpart and the second knitted fabric part.
 9. The tubular fabric with astripe pattern according to claim 8, wherein at least one loop ofadjacent loops in each of the first knitted fabric part and the secondknitted fabric part is missed at the yarn switching point.
 10. Thetubular fabric with a stripe pattern according to claim 9, wherein twoloops of the adjacent loops in each of the first knitted fabric part andthe second knitted fabric part are missed at the yarn switching point insuch a manner that one of the two loops is missed in the last but onecourse of the first knitted fabric part; then the other of the two loopsis missed in the last course of the same; then one of the two loops ismissed in the first course of the second knitted fabric part knittedsubsequently; and then the other of the two loops is missed in thesequent loop course of the same.